coralife vs. walmart brands

[Holton]

I decided to build my own light system and noticed that for coralife auctinices, 50%50s, and fullspectrim lights are about $32 each. Wile the same thing in a walmart brand is only $5 each. What should I do :?

 

[nyghtone]

You should forget both brands In a freshwater tank you don't really need actinics, and quite frankly they don't really look good. I'd just go with some penn-plax from your lfs for like 10 bucks each, they'll look better,

 

[grimlock3000]

What you get at Wal Mart is not the same thing. Most of the lights at Wal Mart are under 5000K for a color temp. Different bulbs can make a HUGE difference on how your fish look, so cheaping out on crappy bulbs is not always the best thing.

How big is the tank and what are you planning to do with it? That can help us give you some suggestions.

 

[Holton]

55gallon asianfish specialized tank.

 

[nodoubt471]

i really dont think that actinics are going to make your fish look any better, it seems like sort of a waste of money on anything but SW tanks.

 

[vega]

actinic will cause algea bloom....

 

[Holton]

I need to have 4 lights so what should I have insted :?

 

[Clown Monarch]

What are the advantages of actinic bulbs for SW? I don't like them myself, so why use them?

 

[Holton]

they make colurs stand out more and help plants and coral grow.

 

[Clown Monarch]

So if I don't plan on having coral (just live rock) I really don't need any actinic light?

 

[Holton]

certain things in liverock beifite from actinics also : fetherdusters, some sponges, and sometimes you get coral in liverock too. 8)

 

[Clown Monarch]

cool, thanks for the info - I'll leave it in.

 

[chasgood]

The people in the planted tank forum are really into lights. They can help you pick out bulbs.

 

[vega]

Hmm... mind you this is a FW section of the forum. Your discussion will confused newbie.
Could any adviser pls move this topic to SW pls.

 

[Pyxis]

Atinics are mainly eye candy for us

 

[Holton]

yeh they do have more an affect on looks than anything. 8)